Government news this time. Meanwhile, in the District of Columbia, Uber ride fares might increase by 10 percent if the Council is able to pass a new rideshare bill. However, it’s not yet official until it’s really official. Here’s the scoop.
New ridesharing bill
Under the proposed bill, District of Columbia will overhaul its ridesharing rules, as well as propose new rules. This comes more than 15 years after laying down the groundwork for the expansion of Uber and Lyft.
Brianne Nadeau, a council member and a progressive who is penning the bill, told RSF that this is bringing “international best practices” to District of Columbia.
Once passed, this reform would require stronger insurance policies for Uber drivers, thereby reducing wait times for wheelchair-accessible cars, and preventing surveillance-based fare discrimination, among other requirements. A hearing is to happen soon.
Uber is against the bill
However, interestingly enough, despite the fact this bill would offer benefits for its drivers, Uber is against it, and is currently lobbying against many of the changes.
The world’s number one betting platform, or rather the world’s number one ridesharing app is saying it plans to testify during the hearing, to say that the bill would lead to a 10 percent rise in fares during the first year.
“Based on data from states that have onerous onboarding restrictions, we expect that thousands of drivers would leave the platform,” LaVita Gardner, a representative for Uber, stated ahead of the testimony for Monday’s hearing.
This is since the bill’s more expensive and pricier minimum insurance requirements, and the prediction that this would discourage drivers from continuing would cause the prices to increase.
Nadeau, however, is arguing that his proposed bill will modernize an “over-complicated law” written years ago. Uber says it’d be “overly rigid,” treating the industry like “legacy taxicab fleets.”
He is referring to the actions that District of Columbia also took in 2015, under what several people saw as a favorable law for the emerging gig economy sector, over the protests of traditional cabs. This paved the way for the flourishing of ridesharing then.
What’s ahead. Kindly look into the hearing this Monday, and find out whether the bill will push through as previous proposed. Uber is a ridesharing app that connects passengers with drivers through a mobile app. Passengers enter their destination, select a ride option, and confirm their booking. Nearby drivers accept requests and transport passengers to their destinations. Fares depend on distance, travel time, and demand, with payments processed conveniently through the app. For more ridesharing news, continue reading RSF, and open your account now! This is RSF, your newsroom for ridesharing, coupons, food deliveries, business, lifestyle, and so much more! ‘Til then! Merry Christmas!